Need an Injury Lawyer for a Florida Bus Accident?
Have you been injured in a bus accident and you wonder where you will turn for compensation as the medical bills pile up against you? Buses fall under ‘common carrier law,’ which means that these drivers have a very special duty to protect their riders at any cost, which means providing them reasonable care. If a bus driver fails to protect you and drives negligently, ultimately causing your accident, they will be held liable for your injuries in the event of a personal injury lawsuit. We want to help you compensate for your injuries when you have been seriously injured by a negligent bus driver.
Your Right to Compensation in a Bus Accident
In any case, where a driver has acted negligently, you have a right to receive compensation. This compensation will usually include aspects like medical bills, costs related to rehabilitation services, lost wages when you miss time at work, emotional suffering, and many other types of damages. You can recover both economic and non-economic damages in cases where a driver has failed to abide by the rules and it has ultimately caused you serious injuries that could impact you for the rest of your life. Common carriers do so much more than get passengers from point A to point B – they must also protect them from harm at any cost. If a driver breaches their duty to you, you could be entitled to many forms of compensation as you move forward.
Negligence occurs for many reasons in bus accidents. Perhaps a bus driver was aware that there was a faulty condition on their vehicle, such as brakes that were no longer working properly, but they did nothing to fix the condition. What happens if a bus driver chose to text and drive, taking their eyes off the road just long enough to sideswipe another vehicle and flip the bus? What if a driver decided to drink before they got behind the wheel of the bus to drive you to your destination? There are many ways that bus drivers act negligently every year, each one as serious as the next.
Who is Liable?
When determining fault, there are many entities that you may be able to name in your lawsuit. Many people assume that the driver will always be liable in these cases because they were the ones operating the vehicle. However, there could be many other entities at fault, such as other motorists sharing the roadways, vehicle maintenance providers, manufacturers of defective products, and many more. These cases, as you can see, are more complex than you may have imagined and determining a negligent party may not be as easy as it seems. However, it is necessary for moving forward with your claim.
Difficulties in Bus Accident Cases
Many bus companies are owned by governmental agencies, which means that there are many other complications in these specific cases. In Florida, this could become a problem, because government agencies in Florida are sometimes protected under something known as ‘sovereign immunity.’ This means that, if your claim is under $200,000 worth of injuries, you may waive your rights in a bus accident. If the claim amount is more than that, immunity no longer applies and you may be able to name several defendants in your case. These are complex matters that you can discuss with your attorney when you are looking to petition your case and be heard on these matters after a serious accident. We are willing to stand by your side and help you protect your rights in your time of need. Call us today to find out how we can help if you have been injured in a Florida bus accident.